Cutting means



June I, 1948.

c. E. BLALACK CUTTING MEANS Filed Sept. 25, 1944 Patented June 1, 1948 CUTTING MEANS Charles E. .Blalack, Altadena, Calif. Application September 25, 1944, Serial No..5 55,647

9 whims- This invention relates to a cutting means intended to serve as a mower, and refers particularly to an endless chain of cutting means.

Mowers of the type having va stationary cutting bar and a reciprocating cutting bar have the disadvantage that they may not be operated at high speed without rapid destruction of these mowers. In my Patent N 0. 2,291,182, issued July 28, 1942, there is .describeda mower in which thecutter is formedof an endless chain, the individual links of which .are providedlwith \cutting blades and the two sides of the chain are positioned for cooperative cutting action. By the use of such an endless chain type of cutting means, it is possible-to operate a mower at high speeds without excessive vibration.

"It is the general object of the present invention to provide an improved cutting means 0 the endlesschaintype.

The improvements effected .bylthe present invention are directedtoproviding. an endless chain cutter :by which the cutting blades of the .two oppositely travelingsides of theohain may ..be held against each other .in proper cutting relationship with less tendency :for separationofthe cutting .blades .in operation, and .less tendency of the cutting blades to pivot. These improvements effected by the present inventionare accomplished while at the same timereducing the friction ofithe. cutting linksrelativeto each other and removing, or atleast substantially reducing, the frictional wear .upon the .link .portio-nv of the cutter.

The cutting .means of the present invention include a novel form ofcuttinglink which cutting linkiischaracterized by being .formed of a singleplate of metalhaving a separateportionto form the cutter, a separate portion forforming thelink of'thechains, and separate portionsrdesigned to provide the cooperating bearing surfacesof .said link. The cooperating bearing surfacesareofa newform, designed toreduce trictionandtostabilize the relative positions of the cutter in operation.

'"fl'heaimproved cuttingmeansof the present invention is also characterized by the fact that itincludes anovel type or holder for: the endless chain whichholder is especially-designed to provide hearing, contact only with the bearing portions of the links of the chain.removing-frictional contact a from other portions. Theholder is also designed to provide not only-horizontal bearing surfaces buta vertical-bearingsuriace for enease en W t utt n .lihhth hembihatiq oiaaid horiz nt and ve tica he rih s face bein re t! ii i lh fo th im r ve sthh hiy c he uttin means th present g op ration.

.Ifh cuttin m ans o th hhh ihi i hyehii h $91-- e her w th othe d ases .cf t e h @1159? will-h a a enh cma e h hqh ah {a sed example of the cutting means embqd n gthe presen inren iqhhare the efore. smart d hhlf b a ier d exam le .Q the izhs shi neh iqn in .lcq hehtihh' w th th ahq h hhhihh ra ihgsh nwhihh h gi a vert ca iseqiihh ih hh h-ihh l ss c ain an 11 her. i the when ihve t. .hi i a $133.EQEEYBQEPQQQW o 5 h ess. qhainchtt rs;

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videdhrth portions. iand 'l.

New referring to., 1?'igs. 2 to 5, inclusive, .8

uriac horizont l bearin engage jghei .rror the top side of the portion 2 of the blank is curved upwardly as indicated at H], the curvature being of a slightly s-shape and the relatively large tongue is pressed up as viewed in Fig. 6, and curved around a circle, as indicated at H, so that the portions in and II form an eyelet or eye at the top side of the cutting link, having a substantially circular opening I2. At the bottom side of the blank as viewed in Fig. 6, a portion of the blank is curved upwardly along a similar S-shape curve, as indicated at M, while the shorter tongue formed by the cuts 3, 5, and. 4, as viewed in Fig. 6, is curved upwardly and around, as indicated contacts the bearing portion 6 of the upper cut ting links. Space is provided for clearance between the body of the link and the holding mem hers I! and 20. The vertical bearing edges Ba of both the upper and lower links are in bearing contact with the vertical bearing face 23 of the bearing member 22. This contact results from the backward pressure exerted upon the cutting edge when the machine is in operation and moving in a forward direction. This contact prevents the link from pivoting in a horizontal plane, which 7 would cause binding of the links within the holdat l3, so that the two portions l3 and 14 form a curved pin adapted to fit within and rotate within.

the opening ['2 of an adjacent link.

In so bending the blank to form the pins and" eyelets of the link as described, it is recommended 7 that the portion Ill be given a curvaturesuch that the flat portion of the link indicated at l5 shall be tangential to the curvature of the portion I0" since by so doing two of such cutting links may lay flat, one against the other, while the lin of pull through the two sides of the chains of such links will be brought closely together, reducing the forces tending to separate the two dies of the chains.

To form a cutting chain, or the cutting means of the present invention, a plurality of links formed in the manner described are joined together to form an endless chain, fragmentarily illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Such an endless chain cutter may be operated in any usual or preferred manner, for example it could be substituted for the endless chain cutters in the mechanism described in my previously identified patent. The cutting means of the present invention, however, also include an improved type of holder for holding the two sides of such an endless chain in the proper cooperating position. As indicated in Fig. 1, such a holder comprises a mounting bar l6 which in turn may extend parallel with the endless cutting chain and for substantially the length of the cutting chain. A lower holding member I! is provided which extends substantially the length of the mounting bar [6 and has a rear portion fitted within a recess in the mounting bar IS, the holding member I! and the mounting bar I6 being held together by bolts such as indicated at [8. The holding member I! is curved upwardly to position its edge IS in ahorizontal plane so that its edge I!) may serve as a horizontal bearing surface. An upper holding member is formed likewise extending the length of the mounting bar l6 and holding member l1, and has its rear end bent downwardly and then rearwardly, as indicated at 2|, to receive the head 26 of the bolt l8. Beneath the portion 2| is provided a bearing member 22 fitting within recesses in the mounting bar [6, and this bearing member 22 has a vertical bearing face 23 which extends vertically to the intended line of movement of the cutting link through the holder. There is also provided a horizontal bearing face 24 on the bearing member 22.

The holding member 20 has its forward end curved downwardly to bring its edge 25 into a horizontal position to provide a horizontal bearing surface aligned with but spaced from the bearing surface l9.

In practice, the cutting links of the endless chain have their link portion received between the holding members I! and 20. The bearing face l9 contacts the bearing portions 1 of the lower cutting links and the bearing surface 25 similarly ing members. The bearing face 6 of the upper holding member 20 and bearing face 6 on the lower cutting link is in contact with the portion 24 of the holding member 22. As indicated, shims 21 may be placed between member 22 and the upper holding member 2! in order to secure the desired fit of the links with respect to the bearing faces described.

The member '22 is indicated as having bearing surfaces 23a and 24a complementary to the bearing surfaces 23 and 24 so that when the surfaces 23 and 24 become worn, by turning the member 22 upside down as viewed in Fig. 1, the bearing surfaces 23a and 24a. are availableas new, unworn bearing surfaces.

It will accordingly be seen that the endless chain cutters may move through the holder without contact between the cutters and the holder, except at specially designed bearing surfaces. Forward and, rearward horizontal bearing surfaces are provided, as well as a vertical bearing surface, which in practice are capable of maintaining the two sides of the cutting chains in firm contacting relationship without allowing pivoting or separation thereof. Wear of the link portions of the chain is reduced through elimination of contact between the chain and the holder with the result that the chain may move through the holder with less friction and with less wear.

This invention is not limited to the particular examples shown for the purpose of illustrating the invention, but includes such modifications and changes as come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A link for an endless chain cutter of a harvester, said link being formed of a metal plate and having a cutting blade portion, a link portion, and bearing portions, one bearing portion being disposed between the cutting portion and link portion, and the other bearing portion being disposed at the opposite side of the link portion from the cutting portion, the link portion having a central opening for receivinga sprocket pin, and tongues formed in said opening of the link portion bent to'form eyes and pins for said link portion.

2. A cutting link for an endless chain cutter comprising a single blade of metal, having a triangular shaped cutting portion, a link portion, bearing portions, one disposed between the link portion and the triangular cutting portion, and the other disposed at the oppositeside of the link portion, the link portion having a central aperture with tongues formed at the margins of said aperture and curved to form the eyes and pins of the link portion.

3. A cutting link for an endless harvester chain, said cutting link comprising a rectangular portion having two parallel spaced central cuts and an intermediate transverse out forming tongues, the ends of said rectangular portion and said tongues being curved to provide eyes and pins, bearing surfaces connected to opposite sides of said rectangular portion, and a triangular cutting portion extending from one of said bearing portions.

4. A cutter for an endless harvester chain including a substantially rectangular portion having two substantially parallel and an intermediate transfer cut forming a relatively long and a relatively short tongue, the endsof said rectangular portion and said tongues loeing bent to form an eye and a pin, a bearing portion connected to said rectangular portion and formed to provide both horizontal and vertical bearing surfaces, at second bearing portion on the opposite side of said rectangular portion and a triangular cutting portion joined to said latter bearing portion.

5. An endless chain cutting means for a harvester which includes a chain cutter formed of cutting links, each including a link forming portion having a separate bearing portion at the front and the rear thereof, the front bearing portion joined with a triangular cutting portion, and a holder for maintaining the cutting links in cooperating cutting action, said holder comprising an upper and a lower holding member, said upper and lower holding members being formed to provide horizontal bearing contact with the cutting links only on said bearing surfaces thereof, said holding means also including means providing a rectangular bearing surface forming bearing contact with the rear bearing portions of said cutting links.

6. A cutting means of the class described, which includes a cutting chain having its two sides positioned for cooperative cutting action, said chain being formed of cutting links having link forming portions disposed between horizontal bearing surfaces, said cutting links also having triangular shaped cutting portions extending 6 from one of said bearing surfaces, a holder for maintaining said cutting links in cooperating cutting relationship, said holder including an upper member and a lower member, said upper and lower members having bearing contact with the cutting links only on said bearing surfaces thereof.

7. A link for an endless chain cutter, comprising a link portion having a central opening for receiving a sprocket pin, a pin at one end and an eye at the other end of said link portion, bearing portions joined to the sides of said link portion and extending laterally beyond the pins and eyes thereof, and a cutting, blade joined to one of said bearing portions.

8. A link for an endless chain cutter, comprising a link portion having a central opening for receiving a sprocket pin, said link portion having a pin and an eye at its opposite ends, a bearing surface extending on each side of said link beyond said pins and eyes, and a cutting blade. extending from one of said bearing portions.

9. A cutting link for an endless chain cutter, comprising a link portion having a central aperture with tongues formed at the margins of said apertures and curved to form an eye and a pin at the opposite ends of the link portions, a bearing portion at each side of the link portion, and a cutting blade joined to said bearing portion.

CHARLES E. BLALACK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,280,223 Higgins Oct. 1, 1918 2,291,182 Blalack July 28, 1942 

